Ticket printing mechanism



Jan. 13, 1953 B. K. SLONNEGER 2,625,103

TICKET PRINTING MECHANISM Filed April 4, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l FIG.4

MWASHINGTON To NEW YARK Train Space Date Date Code or Endorsameni NOV-72.4 IOBZ'Z I203 l STA. ANY P LLRMXN O. 6|5 Issued by h! 00 .R.Co. 1.5!.

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NOV-7 2.4 0.32 \203 l INVENTOR Date Space 4 BRUCE K. SLONNEGER ANYPULLMAN co. uimqm Check- M M To Identify Accomoduflons BY Good Only OnDuh Shown Property Token lnio Car At Own." Risk M HIS ATTORNEYS Jan. 13,1953 B. K. SLONNEGER TICKET PRINTING MECHANISM 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FiledApril 4, 1950 I .6 F G 2l 25 W: IO -|NVENTOR l8 k k BRUCE K.SLONNEGER isn2 HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETICKET PRINTING MECHANISM Bruce K. Sloiineger, Dayton, Ohio, assignor.to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a' corporation ofMaryland Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,853

4 Claims. (01. 101-297) This invention relates to improvements inticket-printing mechanisms.

The invention embodies a ticket-printing i'mechanism for printingsupplementaldata on a preprinted ticket by means of a porous printingelement mounted on a stationary support, and includes a movable platenon which the ticket is supported during theprinting operation. Theinvention includes a means for holding theticket stationary during theprinting operation and a means for controlling the pressure which can beapplied tothe porous printing element to thereby prevent smudging duringthe printing operation. The object of the invention is to provide asimple printing mechanism for printing supplemental data. on ticketsissued by a conventional accountingmachine.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a printing mechanismfor printing the destination point on a railroad ticket. Anotherspecific object Of the invention is to provide a printing elementcomprising a porous type means which is saturated with ink, and whichrequires no inking ribbon, or other inking medium.

,Withthese and incidental objects in view, the invention includescertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, apreferred formor embodiment of which is hereinafter .described withreference to the-drawingswhich accompany. and form a part of,this'specification.

Of the drawings: Fig. 111s a. detail cross-sectional view taken throughtwo units. ofthe printing mechanism and shows one, unit in operatedposition. Fig. 2.is a detailed perspective view of some of the partsshown in Fig. l and illustrates the method of assembling the printingunits. Fig. 3 is. a top plan view of a part of the ticketprintingmechanism. Y

Fig. 4 is a' facsimile of a ticket on which the suplemental data isprinted.

Fig.5. is a side elevational view of the printing unit shown mountedbeside a conventional accounting'machine.

' Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken'on lines 1 6-6 of Fig. 5.

7 General description The invention is shown herein as being adapted andarranged for use in connection with a. machine such as that disclosed inUnited States Patent No. 1,795,509, issued to William H. RobertsononMarch 10,1931. Said machine is modified ,to provideaticket issuing andprinting means to print the data shown in Fig. 4 herein, with, theexception of the name of the city of destination, which name .isillustrated herein as New York, thus converting the machine for use as.-a railroad ticket issuing machine. The name of the city of destinationis entered on the ticket by means of the novel printing meansillustrated herein.

means consists of a frame, the size and shape whereof may besuch as toconform with the machine which issues the ticket, so that, when placedbeside the ticket-issuing machine, aneat and compact arrangement isprovided. It is not intended that the novel destination-printingmechanism be located beside the ticket issuing machine in all cases,since it may be more convenient in some instances to locate thedestination-printing mechanismin a location other than beside theticket-issuing machine. In such cases, the framework can assume any sizeor shape, depending on the space available therefor. ,For example, insome railroad stations, it may be more convenient tohave theticket-issuing machine located atthe window, wherethecustomer makes hispurchase, and the destination-printing [means located adjacent therearWall of: the ticket booth. Such an arrangement would be use d inrailroad stations handling ticket sales to a very large number ofdestinations, in which case the number. of tiers. of printing media.would be so great that the space'at the .windo'wwould not be suflicient.In the present application, only one tier of printing means isillustrated for-the purpose of disclosing the invention. The number oftiers used at a given station is governed by'the number of destinationcities to .be served by the railroad.

As illustrated herein (Fig. 4), the ticket issued by the ticket-issuingmachine is shown for reservjing Pullman spaces and, when so issued, doesnot have the city of destination printed thereon. The ticket is takenfrom the machine and inserted into the proper position in the meansconstitut- ,ingthe presentinventiomwhere the destination and the firstmovement thereof brings the ticket into contact with 'a. holdingmeansgconsistingof a ;;resilient gripping device toiprevent shiftingofthe ticket while the printing operation takes place. Upon furthermovement of the table, the ticket is brought into printing contact witha printing element to effect the printing operation, whereupon the tableis released and the printed ticket is removed and delivered to thecustomer.

In the present disclosure, the printing element consist of micro-porousrubber constructed by a process like that disclosed in United StatesPatent No. 2,353,877, issued to Robert G. Chollar on July 18, 1944.Printing members made by the process have their pores filled withprinting ink, which ink is constantly transmitted to the printingsurface in the proper volume for making clear impression by capillaryaction. By the use of this form of printing means, no ribbon or otherinking means are required, thus simplifying the construction andoperation of the printing means.

Printing members constructed by the above process are soft and spongy,and therefore the pressure exerted thereon during the printing operationmust be controlled to obtain clear impressions, since too great agressure tends to bring too much ink to the printing surface. Thecontact pressure of the ticket against the printing element iscontrolled by a novel means mounted adjacent the printing element, whichlimits the extent of movement of the table supporting the ticket beingprinted upon.

The printing means are so assembled on the framework as to provide asimple assembly operation and also to provide for simple rearrangementthereof. Each station-printing element constitutes a separatelyconstructed unit which can be slid into position on the frame withoutbeing permanently secured to the frame. This is accomplished byproviding a channel on the frame for slidably receiving extensions ofthe printing unit. By simply inserting these extensions into the channelon the frame, the printing units can be slid into position, one at a,time, until a tier has been completed. A clamp is then inserted at thetop of the tier to prevent accidental shifting of the printing units onthe frame.

The frame itself is constructed to provide a simple, economicalmanufacturing procedure. The construction consists of so forming thevarious parts thereof with friction connecting means that the parts canbe assembled without the necessity of any fastening means.

Detailed description The framework of the printin means includes twoside frames l8 and II, having their lower ends turned inwardly to formflanges l2 and I3, respectively (Figs. 5 and 6). Two channel-shapedmembers l4, one located at the front and the other located at the rearof the base of the side frames, are provided with flanges l5 and I6biased toward each other, and they are forced over the flanges l2 and13, where they are held frictionally. The channels l4 extend between thetwo inner walls of the side frames in and I l, as shown in Fig. (9.

The side frames in and II are formed in the shape of triangles toprovide an inclined face for receiving the printing units, and theinclined edges of the side frames have flanges l7 and 18, respectively,formed thereon, which flanges extend toward each other when the sideframes are assembled in the framework of the printing means. The flangesfl and 18 support a plate I9 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6) extending fromthe outer wall of the side frame Ill to the outer wall of the side frameH, and being of a length extending the full length of the inclined facesof the side frames l0 and II. Two channel-shaped members 20, one locatedat the lower end of the inclined face, and the other located at theupper end of the inclined face, of the side frames l0 and H, are eachprovided with flanges 2| and 22, biassed toward each other, whichflanges are forced under the flanges H and I8 and over the plate I9 tofrictionally hold the plate I 9 on the flanges I1 and IS.

The above constructtion provides a structure which is easily assembledinto a rigid support for the printing units presently described andrequires no permanent securing means, the entire assembly being heldtogether by the channels I4 and 20.

The side edges of the plate I9 are turned inwardly to form flanges 25,which are spaced from the surface of the plate [9 a distance sufficientto provide a sliding fit for the flanges 2| of the channels 20, and forsupports 26 of a plurality of printing units. Each support 26 hassecured thereto a first hinge strap 21, which may be secured as by spotwelding. The hinge strap 27 is bent forwardly to form a shelf 28, onwhich the printing element 29 is mounted. The printing element 29 issecured to an angle plate 30, to the latter of which is secured a bar 3|having a flange 32 bent rearwardly thereon to form a recess 33, by meansof which the bar 3| and the printing element 29 are mounted on the shelf28. The flange 32 is biased downwardly to provide a friction connectionbetween the shelf 28 and the bar 31 so that the latter can be assembledto the shelf 28 by simply forcing it thereon.

The bar 3| is provided with a downwardlyextending arm 34 for receivingand supporting a ticket-holding device 35, which has its rear end formeddownwardly and upwardly, as at 36, to form a groove to receive the arm34. The formation 36 is biased to form a friction connection with thearm 34.

When assembled on the arm 34, the lower edge of the formation 36 islocated on a line slightly above the printing surface 31 of the printingelement 29 to control the printing pressure on the latter, in the mannerlater described.

The holding device 35 is rearwardly and downwardly bent at an angle toform a resilient holding plate 38, to hold the ticket against shiftingduring a printing operation in the manner later described.

The first hinge strap 21 has a knuckle 40 formed therein, which isnotched in the usual manner to receive the knuckle of a second hingestrap 4|, and a hinge pin 42 i provided, on which the second knuckleturns, the first strap 21 being stationary on the support 26.

Secured to the second hinge strap M is a ticketreceiving table 62,having an upturned side flange 43 formed on each side thereof to guidethe insertion of a ticket thereon. To aid in the selection of the properprinting element 29, each table 62 has frictionally held thereon a labelholder 44 formed in the shape of a long narrow channel which ispositioned at the free end of each table. A label bearing a namecorresponding to the name on the associated printing element ispositioned beneath a sight opening 45 in each label holder 44.

The plurality of units, each consisting of a support 26, a hingeassembly 21-41, a printing element 29, and a table 62, are positioned onthe plate 19 of the framework by sliding each support 26 into the spaceformed by the flange 25. To

properly spacethe lowermost unit from the bottom of. the framework andto support the lower.- most table 62, a spacer 46 (Fig. 5), similar'inwidth and thickness to a support 26, is slid into the said space on thesupport 26 far enough to contact the upper end of the flange 21 of thechannel 20... The spacer 46 is bent forwardly to provide aledge' l'l,on'vvhich the lower table 62 normally rests. As each succeeding printinguni-t is slid into position on the plate IS, the lower end of itssupport 25 is arrested by the upper end of the next support 25. In thisway, the framework can be completely filled, or any number of units upto the capacity of the framework can be inserted. After the last unit isin position on the plate IS, a finish, or filler, member 48 is insertedon the plate l9, which member is bent forwardly to provide a top 49. Theentire assembly is then locked in position by the upper channel member20.

In the normal or unoperated positions of the printing tables 82, thelower face of each rests on the upper face of the next lower ticketholding device, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The conventional ticket-printing machine 50 (Fig. 5) issues a ticket 5|(Fig. 4) containing all the data illustrated, with the exception of thelegend 52,representing the city of destination. The station issuing theticket is represented by the legend 53, and the machine 50 is providedwith a suitable printing electro to print the desired legend. After theticket has been issued by the machine 50, the operator positions theticket on the table having the desired label thereon, and the ticket ispositioned face up. The flanges 43 on the table 52 properly aline theticket sidewise, and the hinge knuckle 40 limits the extent to which theticket can be inserted into the table, which properly alines the ticketin respect to the printing element 29. After the ticket has beenpositioned on the table 62, the table is raised to rock it upwardly, asindicated by the arrow 54 (Fig. 5). The initial movement of the table 62brings the ticket 5! into contact with the resilient holding plate 38,which, as illustrated by the upper unit in Fig. 1, takes placeimmediately the table is moved. Further movement of the table 62tensions the resilient holding plate 38 until the ticket is engaged withthe formation 36, at which time the plate 38 is tensioned sufficientlyto hold the ticket against shifting on the table, and at the same timethe face of the ticket is moved into printing contact with the printingmember 29 to effect the printing of the legend thereon, as illustratedby the lower unit in Fig. 1.

The printing member 29 is constructed of a microporous material which issaturated with ink, and its face is continually being supplied with inkby capillary action. In this type of printing element, too great apressure during the printing operation causes smudging and therefore anindistinct impression. The pressure which can be exerted on the printingmember is controlled by locating the printing face 31 of the printingelement 29 the proper distance in alinement with the formation 36, thelatter limiting the extent of movement of the table 62, as beforementioned, to obtain a clear printed impression.

The invention is illustrated herein for use with a machine shown in theaforementioned patent, and it is also illustrated herein with only onetier of printing units. The size, shape, and number of tiers used willdepend on the size, shape, and number of destination points to beserved.

If desired, the printing units can be arranged in a'location other thanbeside the ticket-issuing machine, such as, for example, on any wall ofthe ticket-issuing oifice.

The construction shown and described is intended for easy assembly andrearrangement. If desired, the framework can be made ridged, as bywelding or riveting the framework together.

While the form of the invention shown and described herein is admirably'a'daptedto fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the form ofembodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing mechanism for printing supplemental data on apreprinted ticket, the combination of a plurality of tables, a frame onwhich the tables are supported, one adjacent the other, a hinge for eachtable, one strap of each hinge being secured to the support, said strapsbeing located adjacent each other, a printing element mounted on eachone of said straps, and a stop connected to each one of said straps tonormally support an adjacent table, said tables adapted to selectivelyreceive a ticket and thereafter movable on the hinges to bring theticket thereon into printing contact with the printing element.

2. In a printing mechanism for printing supplemental data on apreprinted ticket, the combination of a plurality of tables, a frame onwhich the tables are supported, one adjacent the other, a hinge for eachtable, one strap of each hinge being secured to the support, said strapsbeing located adjacent each other, a printing element mounted on eachone of said straps, a stop connected to each one of said straps tonormally support an adjacent table, said tables adapted to selectivelyreceive a ticket and thereafter movable on the hinges to bring theticket thereon into printing contact with the printing element, and aresilient holding means to hold the ticket in fixed position when theticket comes into printing contact with the printing element.

3. In a printing mechanism for printing supplemental data on apreprinted ticket, the combination of a plurality of tables, a pluralityof printing elements, a hinge to connect each table to a printingelement, each printing element lying in the path of movement of anassociated table, a frame having a flange formed on each of two sidesthereof formed to provide grooves, and projections on each side of onestrap of each hinge positionable in said grooves whereby each hinge isremovably mounted on the frame, said grooves being arranged to receivethe said hinge straps adjacent each other.

4. In a printing mechanism for printing supplemental data on apreprinted ticket, the combination of a plurality of tables, a pluralityof printing elements, a hinge to connect each table to a printingelement, each printing element lying in the path of movement of anassociated table, a frame having a flange formed on each of two sidesthereof formed to provide grooves, projections on each side of one strapof each hinge positionable in said grooves whereby each hinge isremovably mounted on the frame, said grooves being arranged to receivethe said hinge straps adjacent each other, a means supported on each ofsaid one hinge straps projecting into the path of an adjacent table tosupport the said adjacent table in unoperated position, and a resilientholding means formed on each of said means to hold the ticket on a tablenext adjacent to the table 7 held in unopemted position, whereby theticket is heldagainst shifting during a printing operafile of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS tion thereon Number Name Date 10,670 Hawkes Mar.21, 1854 BRUCE SLONNEGER' 155,927 Clark Oct. 13,1874 1,347,152 FolgerJuly 20, 1920 REFERENCES CITED 7 1,391,856 Schmidt Sept. 27, 1921 Thefollowing references are of record 1n the 2 3, 44 Boisselier 0 1- 15,1940

